Inside AJC

2/28/18 - Atlanta - Gov. Nathan Deal held a press conference to address the jet fuel tax cut issue after the Senate Rules Committee stripped the Delta tax cut from legislation. Gov. Nathan Deal and legislative leaders had hoped they could make a deal Wednesday on the Delta fuel tax legislation - which also includes a state income tax rate cut. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM Photo: Bob Andres/bandres@ajc.com

Deal will sign tax bill that kills Delta break after NRA flap

Gov. Nathan Deal said he would reluctantly support a measure that stripped a lucrative tax break for Delta Air Lines but also includes broader cuts to the state’s income tax rate.

The Republican was a vocal supporter of the $50 million tax break, which would have eliminated the state’s tax on jet fuels. But Senate Republicans voted Wednesday to strip it out of the measure after Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said he would “kill” the incentive unless Delta restored ties with a gun rights group.

At a press conference Wednesday, Deal said he was frustrated by the “antics” of Republicans seeking higher office and said he would still seek to salvage a tax break for Delta. But he said he couldn’t veto a measure that also amounted to a sweeping tax cut for residents.

“The real story is the unprecedented $5 billion tax cuts for Georgians,” he said. “The real story is what it has always been: What is in the best interests of our state.”